Yakushi-An: Healing Sage Wellness Center

09/05/2025

😊 Does this sound familiar?

* You eat “pretty healthy” but still feel bloated and sluggish after meals.

* The afternoon brain fog hits, no matter how much coffee you drink. (3pm coffee/sugar break is a necessary routine just to get through most work days.)

* You wake up tired, even after a full night’s sleep. (i.e., your snooze button has seen more action than a Quentin Tarantino film.)

* Stress seems to show up in your body as much as in your mind. (Often felt as neck/shoulder tension, headaches, and gut pain.)

Here’s the surprising part: these issues often share the same root — your gut.

When your gut is out of balance, it doesn’t just affect digestion. It can drain your energy, cloud your focus, disrupt sleep, and mess with your mood.

The good news? Small changes in diet, stress management, and lifestyle can often make a big difference.

👉 Which of these challenges feels the most familiar to you right now?

Send a message to learn more

09/02/2025

🌱 Gut health is personal for me.

For years, I thought fatigue, brain fog, and headaches were just the “price of being busy.” I ate reasonably well (or so I thought), exercised, and pushed through. But no matter what I tried, my energy never seemed to keep up with the demands of life, and I felt burned out most of the time.

It wasn’t until I dug into my gut health that things clicked. Simple changes — the right foods, right timing, and managing stress differently — shifted everything. My energy came back. Focus got sharper. Even my sleep, strength, and waistline improved.

What shocked me most was how connected it all was. Fixing the gut wasn’t just about digestion — it was about everything.

And here’s the thing: I’ve seen the same story play out over and over again with clients, friends, and family. Different symptoms, same root causes.

👉 Makes you wonder — how many of the struggles we think are “just part of life" or "getting old” could actually be traced back to the gut?

08/29/2025

We just received a new selection of some amazing crystals and stones!

We love them and can't wait to share them with you!

08/29/2025

💡 What if your gut is behind more than just digestion?

Most people think of gut health as “just about food.” Eat the right thing, avoid the wrong thing, done.

But here’s the surprising truth:

👉 Nearly 70% of your immune system lives in your gut.

👉 About 90% of your serotonin (your feel-good brain chemical) is produced there.

👉 Chronic inflammation often starts in the gut long before you ever feel pain or fatigue.

That means the brain fog, low energy, or even stress you feel during a busy workday might not just be in your head — it could be in your gut.

If you had to guess... How much is your gut influencing your energy, focus, and resilience, right now?

Send a message to learn more

07/31/2025

We upgraded our retail space!
Thank you to David Ferguson for the beautiful countertop which makes this display really shine!

07/25/2025

Even my repeat clients receive unique sessions that fit where they are and what they need that day. I've never done the same treatment session twice.

Every person is unique, and your massage therapy session should be too. Talk to your massage therapist about your health and wellness goals to create a custom approach.

07/14/2025

Yes. It is gratifying to help people feel better than they thought they could, more relaxed, flexible, and mobile—more like their younger selves.

This is what keeps us going, growing, and learning every day. This is what keeps us up at night, looking for ways to help more people.

What’s the most rewarding part of your work as a massage therapist?

07/11/2025

Are you preparing for health and a long life... or something else?

While driving the other day, I saw a sticker on a Jeep that read, "Prepare for self-extraction".

That started me thinking about how that applies far beyond a Jeep owner pulling themselves out of a ditch. It applies, or should, to everything we do in life.

Which led me to the very broad question…

Are you, am I, prepared for self-extraction?

This is a term used by wilderness survivalists and military personnel to describe rescuing yourself from a bad situation when help is limited or nonexistent.

No one is coming to your rescue, so you can't just sit around and wait.

What does this have to do with life, health, and martial arts?

Everything.

I've seen, heard, and personally made the mistake of assuming someone else would bail me out if things go south.

I do encourage a certain degree of boldness in action.

Boldness based on preparation and a confidence couched in knowing I or you will be ok, whatever the outcome may be.

In a self-defense situation, this may mean doing whatever is necessary to survive a violent situation long enough to allow the police time to arrive.

In health, this means making better choices long before you get to the point of needing medical intervention. Walk more, eat more real food with fewer ingredients, don't wait until there is a problem, and then rely on a doctor to fix you… They can't save you from yourself!

In life, this is about having a plan, continual growth, and plenty of resources, guides, and friends…

So you can be truly capable and confident as you move through life.

And you can help each other along the way.

The self-extraction mindset isn't about being the lone wolf, or the army of one…

It's about standing confidently on your own two legs, owning your life and choices, enjoying the challenges and the journey, and being able to assist others to do the same.

07/11/2025

"Food is medicine." This isn't a new concept... It's very old and still very true. I'm excited to see this shift in medical training and hope it sticks.

07/08/2025

Pain is often your body’s way of asking for…

attention... not more punishment.

The "No pain, no gain" attitude that propels you to push harder when it hurts is often going to lead to… more pain and less gain.

Let’s use knee pain as an example >>>

If you’ve ever felt aching, clicking, or discomfort in your knees during workouts...

or even just a walk…

you’re not alone.

Knee pain can be caused by a few things:

tight hips or quads, weak glutes, poor ankle mobility, misalignment in the hips or ankles…

or even just overtraining with too much weight, too many high-impact moves, and not enough recovery time.

But pain doesn’t mean you have to stop training or give up on the things you love doing.

It might just mean you need to train smarter and see a specialist for restoring pain-free movement and flexibility.

Low-impact movements, proper warm-ups, and strengthening the muscles around your hips, knees, and ankles can make a huge difference.

Locating and releasing knots, balancing muscle tension, and restoring proper movement and alignment can also be a major source of long-term relief.

In the end… Listen to your body, adjust, seek help, and keep showing up in a way that works for you.

If you need help finding a specialist in your area, just message me and I'll help you find the right person for your situation.

Photo by yury kirillov on Unsplash
Photo by Eagle Media Pro on Unsplash

06/24/2025

This food looks great! It's super healthy, and it's what most people think of when asked about what they should eat to be healthier and lose weight, but it's missing a critical component…

Actually, two components…

Healthy Fats

and Protein

The challenge with increasing veggie intake is that we often reduce our fat and protein intake too far.

That leads to frustration, hunger, irritability, and giving up on the miserable experience of "becoming healthier".

The solution I share with all my health coaching clients, friends, and family…

Focus on protein first, then veggies, then fats.

This way, you will feel full and satisfied. Not starved, irritable, and insatiably hungry every few hours.

Your body, mind, friends, and family will all thank you.

Photo by Nadine Primeau on Unsplash

06/10/2025

People often ask me how I work on myself when my back or neck aches...

This is one way I found that helps. I call it my "bed of nails" or "spike strip".

It's a little uncomfortable at first, but it stimulates relaxation and increases blood flow, which can be really helpful sometimes.

I do this for my clients in a much gentler, non sharp and pointy, way when they have physical pain complaints.